Solar Energy News Feedhttp://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:58:09 -0500FeedCreator 1.8.3 (obRSS 3.2.10)http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/Solar Energy News Feedhttp://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/
Solar energy newsen-GBSolarCity in Florida brightens solar future in Southeasthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/-DpWOrb3mdg/
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SolarCity&rsquo;s recent announcements that it&rsquo;s launching services in South Carolina and Florida could indicate a big policy shift toward more favorable solar regulations in the Southeast US.</p>
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Historically, the <a href="mailto:http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/future-for-solar-not-so-bright-in-the-sunshin-state-082114/">Sunshine State has been one of the darkest</a> for the country&rsquo;s rapidly growing solar industry. Florida ranks third in the nation for solar potential, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, but only 14<sup>th</sup> for actual installed capacity. It&rsquo;s almost laughable that notoriously cloudy states like New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York rank higher than sunny Florida for rooftop solar installation.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/-DpWOrb3mdg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerWed, 07 Dec 2016 03:53:58 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solarcity-in-florida-brightens-solar-fture-in-southeast/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solarcity-in-florida-brightens-solar-fture-in-southeast/How bad is Trump for the future of rooftop solar?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/Ltfm2FFP5X0/
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Donald Trump&rsquo;s White House is not likely to be good for the future of utility-scale or <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> energy or for the future of the planet. The good news is that solar energy has enough momentum to shine through the cloudy two to four years ahead.</p>
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Trump is among those who believe the vast majority of the globe&rsquo;s best scientific minds are behind an elaborate &ldquo;hoax,&rdquo; aimed at fraudulently convincing the public that humans and their fossil fuels are damaging the environment, leading to dramatic climate change and the rapid melting of polar ice caps.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/Ltfm2FFP5X0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerMon, 14 Nov 2016 03:04:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/how-bad-is-trump-for-the-future-of-rooftop-solar/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/how-bad-is-trump-for-the-future-of-rooftop-solar/Tiny Vermont ranks in solar because of a state-wide mindsethttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/LHSNiQKoiDI/
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South Burlington, Vermont broke ground this month on a new solar array capping the city landfill. The brownfield solar development is expected to save city taxpayers more than $5 million over its 25-year life on power for the municipal government and the local schools.</p>
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The new array in South Burlington would be especially noteworthy in a state like Alabama or Wisconsin, both of which have more sunny days a year than Vermont on average. But neither of those states have nearly the emphasis on solar that Vermont does.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/LHSNiQKoiDI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerTue, 25 Oct 2016 02:27:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/vermont-ranks-in-solar-102516/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/vermont-ranks-in-solar-102516/Plummeting Solar Panel Prices Could Lead Industry Growthhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/LbNxB09PY0g/
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Solar panel costs are low and slipping ever lower. That means <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> will become increasingly easy for the average person to adopt, and increasingly economically advantageous.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/LbNxB09PY0g" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerTue, 04 Oct 2016 04:47:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/plummeting-solar-panel-prices-could-lead-industry-growth-100316/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/plummeting-solar-panel-prices-could-lead-industry-growth-100316/Largest U.S. university solar project switched on in Californiahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/orq33HSuz2E/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201608/fivepoints.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-0d6f0b39-a0cf-7abe-9027-2f149156b578"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The University of California switched on a 60-megawatt solar energy plant on Thursday that it intends to expand to 80 megawatts by mid-2017, at which point it will become the largest solar purchase by any university in the United States.</span></span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/orq33HSuz2E" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixThu, 18 Aug 2016 15:38:45 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-university-solar-project-081916/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-university-solar-project-081916/Data suggests 10 gigawatts of PV currently under construction in U.S.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/ie_wAvI42zk/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/Images/bigstock-Install-Solar-Panels-small.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-43cf7b9a-7857-b29f-7d9d-b23f8255361b"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 44, 64); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are currently more than 10 gigawatts worth of solar photovoltaic projects under construction in the United States, according to data recently released by <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-market-soars-in-q1-061316/">GTM Research</a>.</span></span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/ie_wAvI42zk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixWed, 17 Aug 2016 19:02:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/data-10-gigawatts-of-pv-currently-in-works-for-u-s-081816/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/data-10-gigawatts-of-pv-currently-in-works-for-u-s-081816/California sets new record for solar energy productionhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/21ANz-npeh8/
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e40af44-23d7-a0a3-292f-fb3339425feb"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 44, 64); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-rebates-and-incentives/california/">California </a>recently surpassed a new record for solar power production, producing 8,030 megawatts of energy earlier this month in response to a heat wave sweeping across the state.</span></span><br class="kix-line-break" />
&nbsp;</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/21ANz-npeh8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixWed, 27 Jul 2016 09:09:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-sets-new-solar-energy-record-072816/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-sets-new-solar-energy-record-072816/D.C.-based agency invests $38 million to increase energy access in sub-Saharan Africahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/koDhN2gc4ZI/
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The Washington D.C.-based U.S. Agency for International Development recently announced more than $38 million in investments that are being designated to&nbsp;help end poverty through increasing&nbsp;access to food and energy in developing countries throughout the world.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/koDhN2gc4ZI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixMon, 18 Jul 2016 11:49:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/agency-invests-38-million-to-boost-african-energy-access-071516/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/agency-invests-38-million-to-boost-african-energy-access-071516/Report: Solar cost could drop up to 59 percent by 2025http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/nuhUp0WV6bg/
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-c22d3e24-560a-b4b3-4c06-1d783963e5d5">Costs for electricity converted from solar and wind energy could drop as much as 59 percent by 2025, according to a report recently published by the International Renewable Energy Agency.</span></p>
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In the report, which is titled &ldquo;The Power to Change: Solar and Wind Cost Reduction Potential to 2025,&rdquo; the agency estimated that the cost of electricity produced by solar and wind technologies will decrease between 26 and 59 percent -- 59 percent for solar photovoltaics, 35 percent for offshore wind and 26 percent for onshore wind -- over the next nine years.<br />
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Electricity prices for concentrated solar power are also expected to decrease as much as 43 percent (depending on the technology) by 2025, with the global average expected to reach between 5 and 6 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the report.<br />
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&ldquo;We have already seen dramatic cost decreases in solar and wind in recent years and this report shows that prices will continue to drop, thanks to different technology and market drivers,&rdquo; Adnan Amin, director general for the International Renewable Energy Agency, said in a news release announcing the report&rsquo;s publication. &ldquo;Given that solar and wind are already the cheapest source of new generation capacity in many markets around the world, this further cost reduction will broaden that trend and strengthen the compelling business case to switch from fossil fuels to renewables.&rdquo;<br />
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The Agency also reported that the prices for solar photovoltaics and wind turbines have fallen nearly 80 percent since 2009, and that those prices have consistently dropped 20 percent with every doubling of cumulative installed capacity.</p>
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The full report is available at irena.org.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/nuhUp0WV6bg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixMon, 20 Jun 2016 10:08:56 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/major-drop-in-solar-cost-062116/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/major-drop-in-solar-cost-062116/Report: U.S. solar market on track for record-breaking yearhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/EKX_BQ0H020/
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-749e1378-32a6-8b98-f58b-6cb3aa867693">The growth of the solar industry outpaced that of coal, natural gas and nuclear power during the first quarter of 2016, according to a recent report by the <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/u-s-solar-market-to-expand-in-2016-030916/">Solar Energy Industries Association</a> (in partnership with <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/blog/metal-roofing-the-best-choice-for-solar-panels/">GTM Research</a>).</span></p>
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During Q1 of 2016, 1,665 megawatts of solar photovoltaics were installed across the United States, which accounted for 64-percent of all new electric generating capacity brought online during the first quarter, according to SEIA&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight">U.S. Solar Market Insight, Q2 2016</a>.&rdquo;<br />
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&ldquo;This growth builds off the momentum of a record 2015, in which solar exceeded natural gas capacity additions on an annual basis for the first time ever,&rdquo; according to a SEIA news release published June 9. &ldquo;The report also says that this year the solar industry will install an unprecedented 14.5 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, a 94 percent jump over the 7.5 GW in capacity installed in 2015. This growth cements solar energy&rsquo;s role as a mainstay in America&rsquo;s portfolio of electricity sources.&rdquo;<br />
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The first three months of 2016 marked the 10th consecutive quarter in which more than one gigawatt of photovoltaics was installed in the U.S. and the 12th consecutive quarter in which more than 500 megawatts of utility-scale photovoltaics were installed, according to the report. The report also found that there are now more than 1 million operating solar photovoltaic installations in the United States -- a total of 27.5 gigawatts of operating capacity.<br />
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&ldquo;While it took us 40 years to hit 1 million U.S. solar installations, we&rsquo;re expected to hit 2 million within the next two years,&rdquo; Tom Kimbis, SEIA&rsquo;s interim president, said in the news release. &ldquo;The solar industry is growing at warp speed, driven by the fact that solar is one of the lowest cost options for electricity and it&rsquo;s being embraced by people who both care about the environment and want access to affordable and reliable electricity.&rdquo;<br />
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Looking ahead, the report&rsquo;s findings suggest that utility photovoltaics are expected to drive demand with non-residential systems continuing to push U.S. capacity upward.<br />
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&ldquo;Over the past six months, the non-residential PV segment has shown glimpses of a market that can grow across a more diverse set of project development opportunities,&rdquo; Cory Honeyman, GTM Research&rsquo;s associate director of U.S. Solar, said in the release. &ldquo;While a number of policy- and customer-driven bottlenecks continue to challenge the market, a handful of state policies established over the past half year should unlock new customer-sited and offsite development, with Fortune 500 corporate customers playing a key role in supporting the market&rsquo;s rebound.&rdquo;</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/EKX_BQ0H020" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixWed, 08 Jun 2016 13:04:17 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-market-soars-in-q1-061316/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-market-soars-in-q1-061316/Albuquerque considers solar energy proposal for cityhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/dFrCHVp76ew/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201505/Images/westfacingsolar(1).jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7d10558f-bd68-b7fe-eb7e-894603726aa6">City officials in Albuquerque, <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-rebates-and-incentives/new-mexico/">New Mexico</a> are considering a measure that would drastically increase the city&rsquo;s use of solar energy to power its public facilities -- a measure similar to those that have recently been enforced in cities across the U.S. and the world.</span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/dFrCHVp76ew" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixMon, 16 May 2016 18:45:35 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/albuquerque-considers-city-solar-proposal-051816/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/albuquerque-considers-city-solar-proposal-051816/UAE sets new record for cheapest solarhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/f3SD2LqU0m8/
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The United Arab Emirates set a record for the world&rsquo;s most affordable solar power earlier this week when renewable energy developers bid as little as 2.99 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour to build a solar park in Dubai.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/f3SD2LqU0m8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixSun, 08 May 2016 15:53:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/uae-sets-new-record-for-cheap-solar-050916/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/uae-sets-new-record-for-cheap-solar-050916/Chinese scientists developing all-weather solar cell from graphenehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/ozlEcDobvu0/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/Images/Chinese solar panels.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-bf1e9c0b-134c-9392-7c0d-eb3a281be543"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scientists in China recently announced that they are working to develop a solar panel that can harness energy from raindrops.</span></span></p>
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<span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Researchers from the Ocean University of <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/report-top-10-solar-power-countries-040716/">China</a> (located in Qingdao) announced their findings (A Solar Cell That Is Triggered by Sun and Rain) in a journal published by the German Chemical Society and said they plan to use <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/grapheme-rears-its-head-122812/">graphene</a>, which utilizes a thin layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb, to produce electricity derived from exposing the material to salty rainwater.</span></span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/ozlEcDobvu0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixSun, 17 Apr 2016 17:55:00 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/chinese-scientists-working-on-all-weather-solar-cell-041816/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/chinese-scientists-working-on-all-weather-solar-cell-041816/Report: Top 10 solar power-generating countrieshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/OuWGcdPKDxA/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/Images/Chinese solar panels.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-bf1e9c0b-f2af-d511-bee1-effb88346dcd"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A report recently published by the Paris-based <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/when-solar-reaches-us-grid-parity-in-2016-110314/">International Energy Agency</a> has ranked the top 10 countries with the most solar power capacity.</span></span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/OuWGcdPKDxA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixThu, 07 Apr 2016 09:49:47 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/report-top-10-solar-power-countries-040716/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/report-top-10-solar-power-countries-040716/Nonprofits release 'Low-Income Solar Policy Guide'http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/IDzWXyck0HA/
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Three national nonprofit organizations recently partnered to create an online resource that examines solar industry programs and policies as they relate to low-income American families.</p>
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The three nonprofits &mdash; the New York-based Center for Social Inclusion, California-based GRID Alternatives and California-based Vote Solar &mdash; launched the &ldquo;Low-Income Solar Policy Guide&rdquo; on March 14 during an event in Manhattan.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/IDzWXyck0HA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixFri, 18 Mar 2016 10:08:33 -0700http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/nonprofits-release-low-income-solar-policy-guide-032116/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/nonprofits-release-low-income-solar-policy-guide-032116/Report: U.S. solar market to expand 119 percent in 2016http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/JVNGpVCQgiw/
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The U.S. solar energy market is expected to grow by an estimated 119 percent this year, according to a recent study by Massachusetts-based media company <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/us-solar-market-set-to-grow-119-in-2016-installations-to-reach-16-gw">GTM Research</a>.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/JVNGpVCQgiw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixFri, 11 Mar 2016 00:51:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/u-s-solar-market-to-expand-in-2016-030916/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/u-s-solar-market-to-expand-in-2016-030916/Xcel reaches settlement, will increase Colorado solar powerhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/39izauu6bmM/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201602/solar-panel-techtmb.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Minnesota-based Xcel Energy, one of Colorado&rsquo;s largest power providers, announced Tuesday that it has reached a settlement with community solar developers and plans to work with them to add another 60 megawatts of community solar power to the state&rsquo;s grid.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/39izauu6bmM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixThu, 25 Feb 2016 09:08:10 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/xcel-to-increase-colorado-solar-by-60mw-022516/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/xcel-to-increase-colorado-solar-by-60mw-022516/Rooftop Solar installations grew 66% from 2014http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/QsHKQRFDQx0/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201602/seia-diagram2015.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Homeowners who decided to install <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> panels are some of the nation&rsquo;s biggest new energy producers.</p>
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In fact, the residential rooftop solar industry broke multiple records in 2015, according to the US Solar Market Insight Report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. For the first time ever, Americans installed more than 2 gigawatts of rooftop solar last year. That represents a 66 percent increase over the number of rooftop solar installations in 2014.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/QsHKQRFDQx0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerMon, 22 Feb 2016 09:33:15 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/rooftop-solar-installations-grew-022316/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/rooftop-solar-installations-grew-022316/If Nevada PUC isn't representing the public ...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/XJQA3eznUwc/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201602/IT16-Nevada-021216-newscom.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
If Nevada&rsquo;s Public Utilities Commission won&rsquo;t listen to the public, maybe it&rsquo;s time for a new commission.</p>
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It&rsquo;s a rare thing for three individuals to stand in defiance of the Governor who appointed them, the majority of the legislators whose laws their charged with enforcing, 89 percent of the public they were appointed to protect and even one of the major utility companies they appear to be supporting with their highly controversial decisions.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/XJQA3eznUwc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerMon, 15 Feb 2016 02:37:05 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/if-nevada-puc-isnt-representing-the-public-021716/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/if-nevada-puc-isnt-representing-the-public-021716/Morocco powers on first phase of world's largest solar planthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/CSheXJ20BPQ/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201602/nasanoorI250.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p dir="ltr">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">The country of Morocco officially switched on the first phase of a solar power plant in the Sahara Desert on Thursday that it plans to make the largest solar power production facility in the world.</span></p>
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Noor I, the first phase of Morocco&rsquo;s three-phase renewal energy project, is located near the town of Ouarzazate and is expected to supply power to more than one million Moroccans. Because Noor I is capable of generating up to 160 megawatts of power and spans thousands of acres, the first phase of the project alone is already considered one of the world&rsquo;s largest solar power plants.</p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">The project is being funded in part by <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/morocco-solar-projects-financed-by-kfw-103113/">World Bank</a>, which has stated that Morocco historically has outsourced 97 percent of its energy consumption. The project is expected to reduce the country&rsquo;s outward dependence, as well as drastically reduce its carbon emissions, according to World Bank.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">The plant itself resembles some U.S. solar power facilities located in the <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/wind-on-federal-lands-get-jump-on-permitting-080912/">Mohave </a>Desert, which use thermal power to create steam to turn turbines.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">NASA science writer Kathryn Hansen recently explained the process: &quot;The system at Ouarzazate uses 12-meter-tall [39-foot-tall] parabolic mirrors to focus energy onto a fluid-filled pipeline,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The pipeline&#39;s hot fluid &mdash; 393 degrees Celsius (739 degrees Fahrenheit) &mdash; is the heat source used to warm the water and make steam. The plant doesn&#39;t stop delivering energy at nighttime or when clouds obscure the sun; heat from the fluid can be stored in a tank of molten salts.&quot;</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">According to experts, these thermal systems create an advantage over certain photovoltaic systems because their power output does not suddenly decrease when sunlight is obscured. Although such systems are more efficient in some ways, they are much more expensive and less widely used than the photovoltaic panels often seen on residential roofs and are instead used mostly large desert environment projects.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0672173f-ae47-285c-a5e5-290ca158cbe5">According to the BBC, Noor I will generate enough energy for three hours each night, and the finished project is designed to produce usable power for 20 hours each day.</span></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/CSheXJ20BPQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixMon, 08 Feb 2016 23:15:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/morocco-solar-plant-powers-on-020916/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/morocco-solar-plant-powers-on-020916/California PUC decision is a big win for solarhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/T8Swz501hPI/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/SOLAR18_213_hw-600x375.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
The sun will continue to shine on the solar industry in California. Utility regulators there voted this week to retain retail rate net metering for solar customers. While there will be some changes to the state&rsquo;s net metering policies, the vote is seen by most as a victory for California&rsquo;s <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> customers and businesses.</p>
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In a close 3-2 vote, regulators agreed to allow utilities to charge a one-time $75 to $150 interconnection fee and to charge solar customers a small additional fee that other users pay toward offsetting the cost of programs for energy efficiency improvements and for low-income customers. Net metering will also be based on time of day use.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/T8Swz501hPI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerFri, 29 Jan 2016 04:37:41 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-puc-decision-is-a-big-win-for-solar-013016/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-puc-decision-is-a-big-win-for-solar-013016/Jobs census: U.S. solar industry grows more than 20 percent in 2015http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/cJ0X5TOq8BU/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201601/solar-installers-thumb.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
A Washington D.C.-based solar research and education nonprofit released its annual solar jobs census earlier this month, which found that employment in the U.S. solar industry <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/rooftop-solar-credited-for-20-solar-industry-job-growth-012814/">grew </a>by more than 20 percent in 2015.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/cJ0X5TOq8BU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixFri, 29 Jan 2016 01:53:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/jobs-census-shows-increase-012916/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/jobs-census-shows-increase-012916/DOE awards $18 million for solar-plus-storage projectshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/bESOAC41j_o/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/Shines-Storage-graphic-rotator.png" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Solar plus storage got a big boost this week with $18 million in SunShot Initiative grants from the Department of Energy.</p>
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While <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/the-us-is-generating-far-more-solar-energy-than-thought-07-02-15/">SunShot</a> is striding briskly toward its goal of getting the cost of installed <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> down to $1 per watt or 6 cents per kilowatt hour, the DOE is taking it one step farther now. Its new SHINES program, short for Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV, has a price target of 14 cents per kilowatt hour. That&rsquo;s for fully integrated solar and storage solutions.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/bESOAC41j_o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerSat, 23 Jan 2016 03:49:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/doe-awards-18-million-for-solar-plus-storage-projects-012116/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/doe-awards-18-million-for-solar-plus-storage-projects-012116/Can you install solar panels on a metal roof?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/4EKEKrRn1lQ/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/emount.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
As fires and extreme weather have wreaked havoc on insurance company profit margins over the last decade, more and more homeowners are trading asphalt shingles for metal roofs and lower premiums. That&rsquo;s fantastic, but it leaves some wondering if they can still install <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> on their metal shingles.</p>
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While metal roofs are becoming more popular, they&rsquo;re still far less common than asphalt shingles, and many contractors aren&rsquo;t that familiar with either the roofs or solar panels, let alone how to marry the two.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/4EKEKrRn1lQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerThu, 21 Jan 2016 05:01:32 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/can-you-install-solar-panels-on-a-metal-roof/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/can-you-install-solar-panels-on-a-metal-roof/Queensland power provider launches country's first solar battery trial with U.S.-made systemshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/rlZY60K3jwY/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/Jeff-smith-2.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p dir="ltr">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">A government-owned energy company in Queensland, Australia &mdash; a country with one of the highest rates of household solar energy use in the world &mdash; launched a year-long trial Monday of two U.S.-made solar battery storage systems as part of an investigation into how the company can reward users less reliant on its grid system.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">Energex installed a Tesla Powerwall and a system from California company Sunverge Energy at its Brisbane training facility in order to collect data that will help determine how best to integrate such systems into its current network, as well as what incentives it can offer less dependent energy consumers. The trial is the first of its kind in the country&#39;s history.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">&ldquo;The way our customers consume electricity has changed significantly with the emergence of solar PV and battery technology and we have changed with them,&rdquo; Energex CEO Terry Effeney said Monday in a news release. &ldquo;The future of energy usage in Queensland is about choice; providing customers with a choice as to how they consume their electricity and how much they rely on the network&hellip;. It means we can record real time data from the system and observe the usage habits, which is similar to the smart technology processes we currently use for air conditioners and hot water systems.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">When Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flipped the switch on the program Monday, she also announced the induction of 22 Energex apprentices who will be trained to specialize in solar programs and grid integration.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">&ldquo;New technologies like solar battery storage will dominate the next phase of the solar energy industry, and with it a whole new opportunity for new jobs,&rdquo; Palaszczuk said in the release. &ldquo;These new recruits will gain first-hand experience with the latest technology as part of their training here &hellip;. The energy network will look very different 20 years from now than what it does today. Queensland is perfectly placed to take advantage and ensure we can make the most of those future job opportunities.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">Queensland&rsquo;s federal government has said that it aims to maintain one-million <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/index.php?option=com_jreviews&amp;view=category&amp;Itemid=178">residential solar energy</a> systems generating an estimated 3,000 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity by 2020. Solar battery storage systems are expected to play a key role in achieving that goal, according to Energex.</span></p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b1d87ebf-565b-b7ef-2347-cd7c353cfca6">&ldquo;My Government is continuing talks with global players in the solar technology industry and we look forward to working with them further into the future,&rdquo; Palaszczuk said.</span></p>
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&nbsp;</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/rlZY60K3jwY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Cameron MoixWed, 20 Jan 2016 04:29:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/queensland-power-provider-launches-solar-battery-trial-012016/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/queensland-power-provider-launches-solar-battery-trial-012016/Nevada PUC ignores thousands of rooftop solar advocateshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/dyn7iZ-7X-k/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/B9317867478Z_1_20150627010013_000_GO4B6N07T_1-0(1).jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission voted Wednesday not to delay implementation of new fees and lower net metering rates for <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar </a>customers.</p>
<p>
The unanimous decision came in the face of more than 1,000 people protesting outside &ldquo;we want freedom&rdquo; and hundreds more inside who made thoughtful and impassioned arguments against the new charges for all solar customers &ndash; including about 18,000 home and business owners who have already made the investment.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/dyn7iZ-7X-k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerThu, 14 Jan 2016 06:21:05 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/nevada-puc-ignores-thousands-of-rooftop-solar-advocates-011516/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/nevada-puc-ignores-thousands-of-rooftop-solar-advocates-011516/Solar company exodus from Nevada just the beginninghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/PXx8Q4LL_OM/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201506/rooftop-solar-250.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Nevada utility regulators have created an ugly legacy for themselves with their December decision to slash net metering benefits and increase fees for <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> &ndash; even to those customers who have participated in the program for years.</p>
<p>
Solar companies Sunrun and SolarCity have already announced they will cease operations in the state. <a href="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=8514:solarcity-foster-city&amp;catid=71:california-solar-installers&amp;Itemid=675">SolarCity</a> is laying off 550 workers. Sunrun will lay off hundreds more. And all 6,000 of the reported solar jobs in the state are at risk following the public utility commission decision to allow the state&rsquo;s largest utility, NV Energy, to ratchet up connection fees for solar customers while obliterating the ongoing net metering credit. It is, by far, the most aggressive <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-v-utility-battle-arizona-082115/">assault on the solar industry</a> in any state so far.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/PXx8Q4LL_OM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerThu, 07 Jan 2016 14:56:32 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-company-exodus-from-nevada-010816/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-company-exodus-from-nevada-010816/Budget deal, Paris accord cast sunny forecast for solarhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/_1aJRTeFrqs/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201505/solar-facing-southtb.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Between the recent climate accord in Paris and a likely deal between Congressional democrats and republicans to extend the solar investment tax credit, the future is looking bright for <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a>.</p>
<p>
Solar stocks started climbing after more than 250 nations came to a historic agreement this month to take actions aimed at slowing global warming. With the United States standing arm-in-arm with the United Nations at the Paris Climate Change Conference in early December, it&rsquo;s clear the government will increase its support of renewable energy technologies.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/_1aJRTeFrqs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerWed, 16 Dec 2015 05:12:49 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/paris-deal-sunny-forecast-for-solar-121615/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/paris-deal-sunny-forecast-for-solar-121615/What happens to rooftop solar when the tax credit expires?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/UcDTvwwL250/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/B9317905627Z_1_20150701161349_000_GJ6B82JVB_1-0.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
This time next year, the last solar installations to receive the 30 percent investment tax credit will be going up.</p>
<p>
The credit is scheduled to disappear entirely for <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar</a> and to shrink to 10 percent for utility-scale installations at the end of 2016. So, how will the tax credit&rsquo;s disappearance really impact rooftop solar?</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/UcDTvwwL250" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerFri, 04 Dec 2015 02:53:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/when-the-tax-credit-expires-120415/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/when-the-tax-credit-expires-120415/Dubai to mandate solar on all rooftops by 2030http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~3/LPy85qRy0a8/
<img src="http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/images/_thumbs/news/201508/uaesolarpark1-e1326279656284.jpg" align="left" style="border: 5px solid #595E62;margin-bottom:10px;margin-right: 10px;" /><p>
Within the next 14 years, every single roof in Dubai will be covered in solar panels.</p>
<p>
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, the political leader of the wildly modern Middle Eastern city, announced last week that <a href="http://cleanenergyauthority.com/">rooftop solar panels </a>will be mandatory for all buildings in 2030.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cleanenergyauthority/solar-energy-news/~4/LPy85qRy0a8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Amanda H. MillerThu, 03 Dec 2015 03:13:00 -0500http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/dubai-to-mandate-solar-120315/http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/dubai-to-mandate-solar-120315/